Folding mechanism



y 1941- A. M. ZUCKERMAN FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR ATTORNEYS July 1, 1941- A. M. ZUCKERMAN FOLDING MECHANI SM Filed Oct. 25, 1939 4 SheetsSheet 2 ATTORNEYS Filed Oct. 25, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIJH W E- -fl NVENTOR M BY ATTORN EYS July 1, 1941.

A. M. ZUCKERMAN 2,248,016

FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25. 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 1, 1941 FOLDING MECHANISM Adolph M. Zuckerman, New York, N. Y., assignor to R. Hoe & 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 25, 1939, Serial No. 301,293 20 Claims. (01. 270-64) This invention relates to folding devices and more particularly to certain improvements in folding and associating mechanism for use in connection with rotary magazine printing machines.

There is a progressively increasing demand for magazine press folders capable of simultaneously producing a plurality of different or diversified products. Known magazine press folders are capable of simultaneously producing different products, but these folders have definite limita-' tions in the degree of difference in the thickness or number of pages of one product with relation to the other products simultaneously produced by the same folder. The diversification of products simultaneously produced by the same folder is rendered possible by constructing and arranging the components and cylinders of the folder so that the web or sheet engaging components operably carried at one end of a cylinder may operate' in different phase and independently of similar components operably carried at the opposed end of the same cylinder. By this arrangement, one longitudinal half of the collecting cylinder may operate to collect sheets of the product, and the opposed longitudinal half of the same cylinder may operate non-collect. The thickness of the product thus produced at one end of the cylinder would be twice that produced at the opposed end thereof, and if there were no other operative limitations it would be possible to produce products greatly different in thickness on known folders of this character. However, great difiwculty is experienced in feeding the web to folders of this type when there is a difference of more than one or two thicknesses in the webs or ribbons that are led to one end of the nipping rollers and the webs or ribbons that are fed to their opposed end. Again, further difficulty is experienced in properly controlling the webs as they are transferred from one cylinder to the other in the folder.

Obviously, it is possible to use two separate folders or a double folder having two cutting and folding mechanisms, and thereby greatly in-.

crease the diversity of the products produced, but either alternative would be much more expensive than the single folder herein disclosed, would occupy considerable more space, and

would be more difiicult to operate and maintain.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a folder for rotary printing machines capable of feeding greatly different numbers of Webs or ribbons to the opposed ends of the same operative component or cylinder of the folder,

and the opposed terminals of the component cylinders of the folder being constructed and arranged to operatively receive different numbers of webs or sheets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rotary folder incorporating means for operably feeding different numbers of webs or sheets to opposed ends of the same operative components or cylinders of the folder, certain of the said cylinders carrying means for transfering sheets from one cylinder to another, and control devices cooperable with a cylinder for controlling the sheets or products as they are transferred from one cylinder to another.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rotary folder capable of operably receiving different numbers of webs or sheets at opposed terminals of the same operative components or cylinders to produce different products at the opposed ends of the same cylinders, and separate deliveries, each cooperable with each end of an operating component or cylinder of the folder to thereby segregate the different products.

. A specific object of this invention is to provide a folder for rotary printing machines capable of transferring, collecting and folding diiferent numbers of webs or ribbons at the opposed ends of the same operative components or cylinders of the folder to produce a large number of different products, and nipping or feeding rollers located at the operative entrance of the folder, the nipping rollers being constructed and arranged to uniformly feed greatly differing numbers of webs at their opposed ends. a

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a folder for rotary printing machines having operative components or cylinders constructed and arranged to simultaneously cut, transfer, collect and fold different numbers of webs or ribbons at each of their ends, and to deliver diiferent products from each end of an operative component, the folder including cooperating nipping rollers, one of the nipping rollers being divided between its terminals to engage different numbers of webs or ribbons and feed them to cooperable operating components of the folder, and control members cooperating with a cylinder of the folder to control different numbers of webs or ribbons on opposed ends of the said cylinder.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a rotary folder of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as Well as con- 2 Y i V venient, practical, serviceable and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without i departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantage of the invention. 7

For a complete disclosure of the mile tio'nfa' detailed description of the improved folder will .i now be givenin connection with the accompany-. ing drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view depicting the cooperative association of the improved folder with a four-unit printing machine;

4 F igure 2 is a fragmental vertical s'ectio'nal new tal ren throughthe improved folder, "part's"ap pearing in elevation} Figure. 3 is a fragmental plan viewer the ime eyed nipping rollers, parts appearing in sec- '25 the view being takeh in the irection iridiythearrow? in Figure 2; I

Figure fl is a horizontal section l view taken thipyghthe folder bntheline '4"4 of Figure 2, parts, 5 2 b l jawe Fig ure 5 an elevational view depicting the ;991 rat v l i .n w n t m r ved 6 trol or holding rollers and the jaw cylinder, the

.yiewbeingtaken in the direction indicated bi Eh-8;

a rewsfiei i ure .1 I

Figure 6, is a ira'ginental transverse "sectional view taken through thec olleeting cylinder earn;

i Figure 7 is -a diagrarrimfatic view depicting the Figure 9 is a similar yiew of 'a further 'modi- 'fiQ l i9n Q ie t stq the iewi is'i which i a z:- reference characters designate corresponding 45 .parts, 19 indicates the frame of the 'o'vd fol der ll'lj this frame being secures; as depleted I in Figure 1 to thefra'iii e I 2 of'a two color perfecting magazine press arranged to print two celors on each side of ea'ch of two webs, 6r 'tfopriht rear 50 qlq sq eaehl i gia i i' s -j The'p'r 's piu s twov ow r prie ii flfli i iifid two superposed printing units I 5 arid I3." 'Aweb W is fed from a feed roll I] operate supported .by ,the printing .machine frame l2. This'web 'w'i's led f'rd'rli'trie r'o11 11 through feed rollers 18 "ansguideronrs 20 throu h the unit 13 which prints two colors on one side, then through "the f unit 14 which -prints two'co'lor's on the oth'er'si'de,

and thentowards the folder H.' The web W 60 prior to entering the folder may be slit into any desired number of ribbons, and each ribbon may be led in the same vertical-plane directly to the folder, or it may be passed 'over turner bars tor; offset it laterally for superposition. over any se- 65 lected ribbon. As depicted in Figure 1, a ribbon E fron web is led over suitable guiderollers 21 to v the folder I], and a similar ribbon Be is l we erha end me r l rs 1. 22 the folder. A web W is led from an upper web 70 roll 23 through the units [5 and I6, and then slit 'intofribbons R? which lead 'over guide rolls 25 "andturner bars 26 to the folder., Thosefv'e'rs'd in heart will'unders'tand that four 'colors'niay'be pnntedefi each sideof the web W'by'lea'ding 'it successively through units [3, I5, I 6 and M in the order mentioned and thence to the folder, the variations from the previously mentioned lead of the web W being indicated on Figure 1, by dotted lines W.

The form of press here depicted is merely typical of a type with which the improved folder may be advantageously employed, but, it is to be understood, of course, that other press arrangements incorporating different numbers of imits may also be arranged to supply printed webs or ribbons to this improved folder.

The folder is best depicted in Figures 1 to 4, both inclusive, and it incorporates cooperating nipping rollers 21 and 28. The nipping roller 21 is fixed relative to the folder frame I0, and it ,includ esa supporting shaft 30 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 3| and 32 supported by the folder frame Iii. A plurality of roller sections or collars-33 are mounted on the shaft 30, and a bearing 35 is preferably interposed between the roller sections or collars 33 to support the intermediate portion of the shaft 39, the bearing being supported by the folder frame ID, as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings. The employment of the intermediate bearing 35 is 'not mandatory,

but it is 'a preferred arrangement and this bear- The nipping roller 28 is preferably of c0inpos-' ite construction, and it includes separate shafts 38 and 40 which are ro'tatablysuppor'ted in suitable bearing blocks 0'1 heads 42, 43, 44. The bearing heads or blocks 42 and '43 are positioned intermediate of the bearings 41 and 44 to rotatably support the inner terminals of the shafts 38 and 40. The "Shafts 38 and W0 extend in- W'ar'dly beyond the bearings 42, and 43 to support ihterr'nedia'te roller sections or filling members 4'6 Which are secured 'to them. The bearing heads 4!, 142, :43 and 54 are yieldably SHpDOrted by theco'n've'ntior'ial coil spring plunger type support '50 employed'gene'rally'ori folding-off rollers. This type of support, which is well known to, those skilled in the art, is shown iii Halliwell Patent 1,722,373. 'The coil spring plunger supports "normally urge the "shafts "3'8 and 4 0 towards the fixed nipping roller 2?. Roller sections 51 and 52"are secured to the shafts 38 and 40, the roller sections 5| being interposed between the bearing heads "41 and 42, and the roller sections 52 being interposed between the bearing heads 43 and '44. By this arrangement, the 'rol'ler sections 16, 5| and .52 are stressed towardsQthe fixed nipping roller 21 to thus pinch or bite 'webs 'o'r-r'ibb'ons between the peripheral surfaces 'of the roller sections '335l and 33- 52 'tb thus feed the webs or ribbons l to other 'components of the improved folder.

v, The shaft '30 of the fixed nipping roller 21 has a "gear '53 rigidly -secured to one terminal thereof which'm'esheswith'anidler gear 55 (Figs.

G 'T) thatlis Suitably. driVen'frOm operable compo nents of'th'e folder, as will be hereinaftermore fully disclosed. Gears 5'6 and ST/"are rigidly secured'to the outertermina'ls Of'th'e Shafts '38 and T40, and these gears mesh with similar gears 58 5 arid 60 carried by the fixed rotatable nipping roller shaft 30. As the shaft 30 is driven through its gear 53, it drives the gears 58 and 90, which, in turn, drive the gears 56 and 51 to thereby rotate the sections of the composite nipping rollers 21 and 28 in unison. I

In conformity with well known construction the supports 50 incorporate mechanism for adjusting the composite nipping roller 28 towards and away from the fixed nipping roller 21. This mechanism, as shown in Figure 2, includes operating pinions BI' which are rotatably mounted to operate the conventional mechanism for advancing or retracting the composite nipping roller 28. A shaft 82 carries worms 63 which engage the pinions 6! carried by the supports for the shaft 38, and a similar shaft 65 carries worms 66 which engage the pinions BI carried by the supports for the shaft 48. The shafts '62 and 65 may be rotated through the usual manipulating knob or head, not shown, to thus rotate the pinions 6| to thereby independently adjust the roller sections I and 52 of the composite nipping roller 28 away from or towards the sections 33 of the fixed nipping roller 21. A similar adjusting mechanism is shown in Figure 5, which mechanism will be hereinafter described.

Cutting cylinders 61 and 68 are rotatably supported in suitable bearings 19 carried by the folder frame It. The cylinder 61 is provided with conventional cutting knives 1| having serrated teeth which extend beyond the periphery of the cylinder and engage cutting slots 12 formed in the peripheral portion of the cylinder 68. As each knife 1I passes the bite portion of the cylinders 61 and 68, it engages the webs, and cuts them into sheets of required length, in conformity with the usual practice. Conventional impaling or transfer pins 13 are swingably supported by the cylinder 68 and operate to transfer the sheets from the cutting cylinder 68 to a collecting cylinder 15. The pins 13 are preferably operated by cams in conformity with the usual practice, and they are timed to engage and release the sheets in order to convey the sheets around the cylinder 68 and deliver them to the collecting cylinder 15. A slitter 16 is rotatably supported by arms 11 pivotally secured to the folder frame II], as indicated at 18, and this slitter, in conformity with the usual practice, may be swung to or from operable engagement with the cylinder 68. When the slitter 16 is moved to operative engagement with the cylinder 68, it enplurality of axially alined shafts 80 and 80a having fingers 8| extending radially therefrom, and the outer terminal of these fingers carry impaling or collecting pins 82. The outer terminal of each shaft 90 and 89a is provided with a radially extending arm 83 having a terminal roller 85 which engages a cam groove 86 formed in a rotatable cam 81. Each cam 81 is driven from any suitable rotatable component of the press through a gear 88. The cam 81 is preferably driven so that it will make three complete revolutions while the collecting cylinder is making two. The alined shafts 80 and 80a are similar in construction and arrangement, and their inner terminals terminate at or adjacent the central portion of the collecting cylinder so that each shaft may be operably independent of the other.

Alined shafts 89 and 89a are rotatably supsurfaces carried by the fixed cams I03.

ported by the cylinder 15, and each shaft carries a plurality of radially extending arms 99 to which conventional tucking blades 9I are operably secured, so that, as the shaft rocks, the tucking blades project beyond the periphery of the cylinder 15 to engage cooperable components to be hereinafter disclosed. An arm 92 extends radially from the outer terminal of each shaft 89 and 89a and carries a cam roller 93 which operably engages a cam groove 94 formed in the cam 81, so that the shafts 89 and 89a are rocked to operate the tucking blades 9I in predetermined operable relation with components to be hereinafter disclosed. The shafts 89 and 89a are similar in construction and operation, and they terminate at their inner terminals preferably at or adjacent the central portion of the collecting cylinder 15 so that each shaft may be operably independent of the other. Inasmuch as the shafts 89 and 89 are operably mounted at one end of the collecting cylinder 15, and the shafts 89a and 890, are operably mounted at the opposed end of the cylinder by independent cams, it is manifest that the collecting pins 82 at one end of the cylinder may operate to collect sheets while the pins at the other end of the cylinder 91 have radially extending arms IEII formedat their outer terminals which carry cam rollers I02 at the outer ends thereof. The cam rollers I02 are relatively and extend a relatively short axial distance beyond the ends of the cylinder to engage cam surfaces formed on fixed cams I03 carried by the folder frame I9. Similar roller arms I05 extend a greater distance from the cylinder and radially from the outer terminals of other diametrically opposed jaw shafts 91 and diametrically opposed jaw shafts 9'I positioned intermediate the shafts 9I91 Each arm I95 carries a relatively small loam roller I06 at its outer terminal to engage separate cam By this arrangement the jaw shafts 91 and 91 are operated by one set of cam surfaces formed on the cams I03, and the jaw shafts 91' and 91 are operated by a separate set of cam surfaces formed on the cams I83. The cam surfaces formed on the cam I83 are so arranged as to rock the jaw: shafts 9'I9'I and 91 -91 to permit the jaws to receive folded products from the tucking blades 9| operably supported by the collecting cylinder 15.

Delivery cylinders I91 and I98 are rotatably mounted in bearings H39 in the folder frame I9, and each delivery cylinder is provided with alined gripper shafts H0 and IIEI having grippers III extending outwardly or tangentially therefrom. The outer terminals of the grippers III cooperate with gripper blocks or surfaces H 2 toreceive products from the folding jaws '98, and convey the products around the delivery cylinders to delivery belts or conveyors H3 and H5 of conventional construction. The alined shafts H and III] have their inner terminals located at or adjacent the central portion of the delivery cylinders I01 and I08, so that each shaft is independently operable relative to. the other. Camv arms [I6 extend radially from the outer terminals of each shaft III) and 0 and each arm carries a cam roller I II at its outer terminal .to operably engagea cam surface H8 formed on a fixed cam I20 supported by the folder frame Ill. The delivery cylinders I01 and I08 each have cooperating therewith three slitters I2I rotatably-supportedby arms I22 pivotally supported by the machine frame or brackets, as indicated at I23.. These slitters are arranged to be swungtoandfrom engagement with the cylinder surfaces,.and, when in operative position,

they engage the products and cut them in four sections longitudinally of the cutting cylinders. If, however, the products have been previously slit by the slitter I6, then the central slitter is not employed.

-.When the folded sheets or products are being conveyed around the jaw or transfer cylinder 95, theirleadingedges are clamped by the gripper jaws 98 with the said leading edges; bent approximately 90 to the body of the products.

-As the folding jaws 98 release the leading edge of the product. it straightens out. and is;v then engaged by the grippers III and conveyed around the selected deliverycylinder.

There is anappreciabletime interval between the instant. the leading edge of .the product is released by a jaw .98 and the instant it is engaged by a gripper II I- During thisintervalthe prodmounted in bearinghheads or blocks I3I and I32, and the shaft I28 is rotatably mountedin bearingblocks or heads I33 and I35. The bearing heads I3! and I321areadjustably supported in anism is operableto move theshaft I21 towards and away from the jaw or transfer cylinder 95 by the rotary movement of worm gears I31.

This adjusting mechanism is the conventional it is well understood by those skilled in the. art, therefore, this mechanism is only generallydepicted in these drawings. The bearing heads. 33

and I35 are adjustably supported in brackets or housings I38, and the adjusting mechani'smis;

operable to move the shaft I28 towards and away from the jaw or transfer cylinder 95 .by the. rotary movement of worm gears I4 0; The brackets or housings I35 and I38 are supported by a transali-ned shafts I43. 'andj'ili lli The shaft [43: carries away from the jaw cylinder 95: 1'Iheshaft I45 brackets or housings I36, and the adjusting mech- 5.0

I construction employed in folding-01f rollers; and55 versely extending railor frarne memberl llf -form- $.65 ing a component of thejfolder frame I0. Bearing brackets MI and I42 are supportedby the frame rail: I0 and these'brackets rotatably support spaced worms Hitfwhichmeshv with the. worm-5750 gearsrI31, so that rotary movement of the shaft 1 2,3 imparts rotation to the wormigea-rs; I3iI to thus adjustably move the shaft I-2:I-- towards or supports spaced worms- I'4-I which" mesh with the worm gears I to effect theadjustment of the ishaft I28 towards or away from the jaw cylinder 95. The shafts I43 and I45 are provided with manipulating knobs or handles I48 and I50 to permit the operator to independently adjust one shaft relative to the other to thereby independently effect adjusting movement of the control member supporting shaft I2'I relative to the controlmember supporting shaft I28. The

inner bearings I32 and I33 for the shafts I21 and I28 are spaced apart and separate discs or filling-in members I5I and I52 are operably supported by the inner extensions of the shafts I27 and I28. The shaft I2'I is provided with a pinion I5.3-which meshes with a gear I55 carried at one terminal of the jaw cylinder 95, and the shaft I28 has a pinion I56 which meshes with a gear I5'I carried at the opposed terminal of the jaw cylinder. By this arrangement, the rotation of the jaw cylinder 95 imparts rotary motion to the control members or discs I30. Each control disc or roller I30- has a portion of its periphery cutaway, asindicated at I30=-, thus leaving a portion of greater diameter for engagement with the periphery of the jaw cylinder. By this arrangement, the portion of greater diameter of each control disc or roller I30 engages the product during the interval it is being released by the jaws 98 of the jaw cylinder 95 and is being engaged by the grippers III of the delivery cylinders, thereby preventing the products from slipping back or moving out of control on the jaw cylinder 95. I

The operative components of the folder are driven in operable synchronism by a gear system .which includes a Vertical drive shaft I driven from a horizontal line shaft I6I through a beveled pinion I52 which meshes with a beveled gear I 63. The shaft .I00drives the collecting cylinder I5 through meshing bevel gears I65 and I66, and thev collecting cylinder, in turn, drives the cutting cylinders 67 and 68 through meshing gears I01, I68 and I169. The idler gear 55 intermeshes with the gear 53 carried by the fixed nipping roller shaft 30 and the gear I68 carried by the shaft of the cutting cylinder 68, to thereby drive the nipping rollers 21 and 28 in synchronism with the operable components of the folder. The

shaft of the jaw cylinder 95 has a gear III secured thereto which meshes with the gear IB'I :of the collecting cylinder to thereby drive the jaw cylinder in operable relation to the collecting cylinder, and a gear H2 is also secured to the shaft of the jaw cylinder and meshes with. gears I13 and I15 carried by the shafts of the delivery' cylinders I01 and I08 to thereby drive these cylinders in operable relation tothe jaw cylinder. Any suitable means may be provided for driving the slitters and control rollers, and, as best shown in the diagrammatic Figure 7, the supporting shaft for the upper slitters I2I is driven by a pinion I10, carried by. the shaft of the delivery cylinder I08, which meshes with a pinion I17 carried by the supporting shaft of the upper slitters I'2I. The supporting shafts of the lower slitters I2-I' is driven through a pinion H8 which: meshes with the gear I13. The control .rol-lers or discs I30 ofv the control devices I25 and I-20are, as stated, driven through pinions I53 and I50 which mesh with the gears I55 and I51 carried atthe opposed terminals of the jaw cylinder 95. The slitter discs I0 are driven by a pinion I82 carried by the slitter supporting shaft, and this pinion preferably meshes with the gear I08 or a similar gear located at the opposed terminal of the cutting cylinder 68. I

In operation, any preferred or selected number of webs or ribbons may be fed from the printing press over the turner bars through the nipping rollers to the cutting, collecting, folding and delivery components of the folder. Inasmuch as the nipping rollers are divided, and one of the rollers includes separately adjustable components at each end thereof, it is manifest that any preferred number of webs or ribbons may be led through one side of the cooperating nipping rollers, and a greatly varying number of Webs or ribbons may be led through the opposed side of the nipping rollers. After the webs pass through the nipping rollers they are cut by the cutting cylinders 61 and 68, and the pins 13 carried by the cylinder 68 transfer the cut sheets to the collecting cylinder 15 The collecting pin carrying shafts 80 and 80a. and the tucking blade carrying shafts 89 and 89a are divided intermediate their terminals, so that products of different thickness and of different condition may be handled at opposed ends of the cylinder; If it is desired to collect at one end of the collecting cylinder 15 and to operate non-collect at the opposed end thereof, then the slitter 1B is moved to operable position to slit the sheets, thus permitting endwise opposed portions of the collecting cylinder to independently handle the slit lect sheets are delivered alternatively to the de-- livery cylinders I01 and I08, and subsequently to the conveyors H3 and II5.- The control roll-.

ers'or discs I30 at each end of the jaw cylinder aradjusted through their manipulating knobs I48 and I50 to thus move these control discs or rollers I30 to operably engage the selected number of sheets at each end of therjaw cylinder to permit greatly varying numbers of sheets to be operably carried at each end of this cylinder, and, as hereinbefore explained, the high portion of each control disc or roller I30 engages the products during the interval they are being released by the jaws of the jaw cylinder 05 and engaged by the grippers I I I of the delivery cylinders, thus holding each product against retrograde movement on the jaw cylinder; As the sheets travel around the delivery cylinders I01 and I08, the slitters I2I for each cylinder may be moved to engagement therewith to slit the sheets into four sections, assuming, of course, the sheets have not been previously slit by the operation of the slitter-16. In the event that the sheets have been previously slit by the slitter 16, the intermediate slitter IZI is moved from operable engagement with the cylinders I01 and I08.

It is now manifest that this'device produces a large number of different products, and, for instance in the preferred arrangement, best depicted in Figure 2, it is possible to obtain eight different products. By providing two deliveries, provision is made for separating succeeding cutoffs into two sets, the first set being forwarded to one delivery and the second set being forwardedto the other delivery. In printing such,

products, the printing cylinders would bearranged to receive four plates around the form cylinder and four plates lengthwise of the cyl-' inder, the plates all being different, thus producing four products through each delivery, or, as stated, a total of eight products which are all different, and these products can vary in thickness over exceedingly wide ranges. For instance, one of a number of possible arrangements resides in a condition where single sheets are cut off and forwarded to the first and second sections considered lengthwise of the collecting cylinder, and three ribbons are simultaneously forwarded to the third and fourth sections lengthwise of the collecting cylinder. The sheets on the firstand second sections are run non-collect, while the sheets onthe third and fourth sections are run collect. With this arrangement the products going to the first and second sections are delivered alternatively by the lower and upper deliveries I01 and I08, and the products going to the third and fourth sections are, after being collected, delivered by one of the deliveries.

A modified arrangement is depicted in Figure 8 which includes cooperating nipping rollers 21 and 28 that feed webs or ribbons to a cutting and jaw cylinder I which cooperate with a cut-' ting, collecting'and folding cylinder I86. The sheets are conveyed around the cutting and'jaw cylinder I85 past control roller I30 to a delivery cylinder I01 which is engaged by slitters I2I. With this simplified arrangement it is possible to produce four different products, two of them having a selected number of pages and formed at one end of the cylinders, and two having adifferent number of pages and formed at the opposed end. of the cylinder. 7 I

A further modified arrangement is depicted-in Figure 9 which includes cooperating nipping rollers 21-28 that feed webs or ribbons to a cutting cylinder I81 which cooperates with a cutting, collecting and foldingcylinder I88. The webis carried around the cutting, collecting, and folding cylinder I88 past a stapling cylinder I90 to a jaw cylinder HM, and then-past control roller I30 to a deliverycylinder I01, the delivery cylinder being operably engaged by-slitters I 2|. With this arrangement, products similar to the arrangement disclosed in Figure 8 are produced, but it incorporates the advantage of a stapling cylinder which cooperates with the collecting cylinder to operate on the products before they reach the jaw cylinden- If desired, this stapling cylinder could be employedwith the arrangement disclosed inFigure 2 by installing the stapling cylinder directly over the collectingcylinder 15.

It will be seen thatthe single folder herein shown, includes but one cutting mechanism and one folding mechanism. A double folder that would produce the, same diversity of products would include two cutting mechanism and two folding mechanism, and also double the number of most of the other parts of the folder herein disclosed.

It is, of course, to be understood-that other arrangements incorporating the cardinal features of this invention may be provided, but; in each instance, certain of the cylinders or operating components of the folder arearranged to handle different numbers of sheets or products of different thickness at their opposed ends, and the number of sheets handled at one end of the operating components of the folder may greatly differ from those handled at the opposed end, owing to the fact that the nipping rollers can 6 feed, if necessary, asingle web or ribbon at one end thereof, and a large'number of webs or ribbons at the opposed end. 'Again, as the product fat each end of the jaw or folding cylinder is being transferred to the delivery cylinder, the

productis controlled during the transfer interval to prevent retrograde movement of the product,

and this control is maintained irrespective of }the difference in the numbers of sheets carried lat one'end of the jaw cylinder relative to the :number of sheets carried at .thereofr the opposed end It will be understood that'the invention may Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

1. In a folding mechanism, cooperable rotatable cylinders, separate independently operable components operably supported by, separate longi- :tudinal sections of certain of the cylinders to produce different products on the separate sections of the same cylinders, and cooperable nipping rollers for feeding separate webs to the :separate sections of the cylinders, one of the m'pping rollers having separate longitudinal sections, one section being independently operable relative to the other. I y

' 2. In a folding mechanism, cooperable rotatable cylinders, separate independently operable. components operably supported by separate longitudinal sections of certain of the cylinders to jproduce different products on the separate sectionsof the same cylinders, and cooperable nipping rollers for feeding separate webs to the.

separate sections of the cylinders, one of the nipping rollers having separate longitudinal sections, onesection being independently operable and adjustable relative to the other. I y 3. In afolding mechanism, cooperable rotatable cylinders, separate independently operable components operably supported by separate longiftudinaI sectionsof certain of the. cylinders to produce different products on the separate'sec tions of the same cylinders, a fixed rotatable znippingroller, and a composite nipping roller driven insynchronisrn with the fixed nipping roller, the composite nipping roller having separate longitudinal sections, which are independently operable and adjustable relative to each other :and to the fixed roller, the. composite and fixed f nipping rollers cooperating to simultaneously for-.

ward different numbers of webs or ribbonsat their opposed ends to the said cylinders.

4. In a foldingmechanism, cooperable rotatable cylinders, separate independently operable components operably supported by separate longiand adjustable relative to each other, the composite and fixed nipping rollers cooperating to simultaneously forward different numbers of webs P or ribbons at their opposed ends to the said cylinders.

5; In a folding mechanism, cooperable rotatable cylinders, separate independently operable components operably supported by separate longi-' tudinal sections of certain of the cylinders to produce different products on the separate sections of the same cylinders, a nipping roller operably supported by a fixed rotatable shaft operably supported in opposed terminal bearings and an intermediate bearing and having separate longitudinal sections, each section being interposed between the intermediate bearing and a terminal bearing,and a composite nipping roller driven in 'synchronism with the said fixed nipping roller, the composite nipping roller having separate longitudinal sections, separate bearings for supporting each section and the bearings for each section being located at the inner and outer axial terminals of the section, the said inner bearings being spaced apart, filling-in rollers operably supported between the said inner bearings to form componentsof the composite nipping roller, theseparate longitudinal sections 'ofthe composite nipping roller being independently operable and adjustable relative to each other, the composite and fixed nipping rollers cooperating to simultaneously forward different numbers of webs or ribbons at their opposed ends to the said cylinders. H

6. In a folding mechanism,separate cooperable rotatable cylinders, sheet taking devices operably supported by the cylinders and constructed and arranged 'so' that the sheet taking devices of one cylinder receive products from the sheet taking devices of the other, the sheettaking devices at one end of each cylinder being independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at the opposed end of the cylinder to' engage differ entproducts at the opposed ends of the same cylinders, and rotatable control members located externally of the cylinders'and operably engaging one cylinder to'hold products thereon against retrograde movement when the products are'being "transferred from the sheet taking devices of thesaid engaged cylinder to the sheet taking devices of the other cylinder, the control members which operably engage one end of the said cylinder being independently operable relative to the control members which operably engage the opposed end of the same cylinder.

7. In a, folding mechanism, separate cooperable rotatable cylinders, sheet taking devices operably supported by the cylinders and constructed and arranged so that the sheet taking devices of one cylinder receive products fromithe sheet taking devices of'the other, the sheet taking devices at one end of each cylinder being .independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at the opposed end of the cylinder to engage different products'at the opposed ends of the same cylinders, and rotatable control members located'externally of the cylinders and operably engaging one cylinder to hold products thereon against retrograde movement when the prod ucts are being transferred from the sheet taking devices of the said engaged cylinder to the sheet taking devices of the other cylinder, the control members which operably engage one end of the said cylinder being independently operable and adjustable relativetothe control members which operably engage the opposed end of the same cylinder. n

8. In a folding mechanism, separate cooperable rotatable cylinders, sheet taking devices operably supported by the cylinders and constructed and arranged so that the sheet taking'devices of one cylinder receive products from the sheet taking devices of the other, the sheet taking devices at one end of each cylinder being independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at the opposed end of the cylinder to engage different products at the opposed ends of the same cylinders, a composite control device located externally of the cylinders and operably engaging one cylinder to hold products thereon against retrograde movement when the products are being transferred from the sheet taking devices of the said engaged cylinder to the sheet taking devices of the other cylinder, the control device including separate independently supported rotatable shafts, one shaft being positioned adjacent one end of the said engaged cylinder and the other shaft being positioned adjacent the opposed end of the same cylinder, control discsor rollers carried by each shaft to operably engage products carried on the peripheral portion of the said cylinder, and means for independently driving each shaft in synchronism with the said engaged cylinder.

9. In a folding mechanism, separate cooperable rotatable cylinders, sheet taking devices operably supported by the cylinders and constructed and arranged so that the sheet taking devices of one cylinder receive products from the sheet taking devices of the other, the sheet taking devices at one end of each cylinder being independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at the opposed end of the cylinder to engage different products at the opposed ends of the same cylinf ders, a control device operably engaging one cylinder to hold products thereon against retrograde movement when the products are being transferred from the sheet taking devices of the said engaged cylinder to the sheet taking devices of the other cylinder, the control devices including separate independently supported rotatable shafts, one shaft being positioned adjacent one end of the said engaged cylinder and the other shaft being positioned adjacent the opposed end of the same cylinder, control discs or rollers car ried by each shaft to operably engage products carried on the peripheral portion of the said cylinder, means for independently driving each shaft in synchronism with the said engaged cylinder, and means for independently adjusting each shaft to and from the engaged cylinder so that products of different thickness may be carried at the opposed ends of the said engaged cylinder.

10. In a folding mechanism, cooperable rotatable cylinders, separate independently operable components operably supported by separate longitudinal sections of certain of the cylinders to produce different products on the separate sections of the said cylinders, cooperable nipping rollers for feeding separate Webs to the separate sections of the cylinders, one of the nipping rollers having separate longitudinal sections, one section being independently operable relative to the other, sheet taking devices operably supported by a first cylinder and a second cylinder among the said cylinders and constructed and arranged so that the sheet taking devices of the second cylinder receive products from the sheet taking devices of the first cylinder, the sheet taking devices at one end of each cylinder being independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at the opposed end of the cylinder to engage different products at the opposed ends of the same cylinders, rotatable control members operably encontrol members which operably engage the opposed end of the same cylinder.

11. In a folding mechanism, cooperable rotat-' able cylinders, separate independently operable components operably supported by the opposed ends of certain of the cylinders to produce different products on the opposed end of the same cylinders, cooperable nipping rollers for feeding webs to the opposed ends of the cylinders, one of the nipping rollers having separate longitudinal sections, one section being independently operable and adjustable relative to the other to feed different number of Webs to the opposed ends of the cylinders, sheet taking devices operably supported by a first cylinder and a second cylinder among the said cylinders and constructed and arranged so that the sheet taking devices of the first cylinder deliver products to the sheet taking devices of the second cylinder, the sheet taking devices at one end of each cylinder being independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at the opposed end of the cylinder to engage different products at the opposed ends of the same-cylinder, rotatable control members operably engaging the first cylinder to hold products thereon against retrograde movement when the products are being transferred from the sheet taking devices of the first cylinder tothe sheet taking devices of the second cylinder, the controlmembers which operably engage one end of the first cylinder being independently operable and adjustable relative to the control'members which operably engage the opposed end of the same cylinder.

12. In a folding mechanism, a folding cylinder, sheet takingdevices operably supported by the folding cylinder, the sheet taking devices at one end of the cylinder being independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at the opposed end of the cylinder to carry different products 'on the opposed ends of the folding cylinder, means for feeding sheets tothe sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder, separate delivery cylinders cooperable with the folding cylinder, sheet taking' devices operably supported by each delivery cylinder to receive products from the sheet taking devicesof the folding cylinder, the sheet taking devices at one end of each delivery cylinder being independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at the other endof the'same cylinder so that different products may be received at each end of the delivery cylinders from the corresponding end of the folding cylinder, separate sets of rotatable control members located externally of the folding cylinder and operably engaging the folding cylinder adjacent each delivery cylinder, the control members which operably engage one end of the folding cylinder being independently operable relative to the control members which operably engage the opposed'end of the folding cylinder to control different products at each end of thefolding cylinder asthey are being delivered from the sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder to the sheet taking devices of the delivery cylinders. 13. In a folding mechanism, a folding cylinde sheet taking devices operably supported by the folding cylinder, the sheet taking devices atone end of the cylinder being independently operable; relative to the sheet taking devices at the op- 1 posed end of the cylinder to carry different'prodnets on the opposed ends of the folding cylinder, 1 means for feedin sheetsrto the sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder, said means including cooperable nipping rollers, one of the nipping I rollers having separate longitudinal sections and 1 one section being independently operable rela- 1 tive to the other to feed diflerent numbers of 1 webs or ribbons at the opposed ends of the coi operable nipping rollers, separate delivery cylinders cooperable with the folding cylinder, sheet taking devices operably supported by each delivery cylinder to receive products from the sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder, the sheet 5 taking devices at one end of each delivery cylinder being independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at the other end of the same cylinder 'so that different products may be received'at each end of the delivery cylinders fromv the corresponding end of the folding cylinder,

separate sets of rotatable control members op- "erably engaging the folding cylinder adjacent each delivery cylinder, the control members 1,4. In a;folding mechanism, a foldingcylinder,

sheet taking devices operably supported by the folding cylinder, the sheet taking devices at one j end of the cylinder being independently operable irelative to the sheet taking devices at the p- 1 posedend of the cylinder to carry different prod- 1 nets on the opposed, ends of the folding cylinder, Q means for feeding sheets to the sheet taking de- 5 vices of the folding cylinder, said means includm cooperable nipping rollers, one of the nipping rollers having separate longitudinal sections and one section being independently operable, relative: to the other to feed different numbers of; webs or ribbons at the opposed ends of the cooperable nipping rollers, cutting and collecting cylinders constructed and arranged tofeed dif-' ferent numbers of sheets to the sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder at the opposed ends thereof, a delivery cylinder cooperable with the folding cylinder, sheet taking devices operably supported by the delivery cylinder to receive products-from the sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder, the sheet taking devices at one end: of the deliverycylinder bein independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at Ithe other end of the same cylinder so that different products may be received at each end of the delivery cylinder from the corresponding end 0f the folding cylinder, rotatable control members operably engaging the folding cylinder adjacent the delivery cylinder, the control members which operably engage one end of the folding 3 cylinder being independently operable relative to the control members which operably engage the opposed end thereof to control different products at each end of the folding cylinder as they are being delivered from the sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder to the sheet taking devices 50f the deliverycylinder. o I In a folding mechanism, a folding cylinder, sheet"taking devices operably supported by the folding cylinder, the sheet taking devices at one end of the cylinder being independently operable.

relative to the sheet taking devices at the opposed end of the cylinder to carry different products on the opposed ends of the folding cylinder, cooperable nipping rollers, one of the nipping rollers having separate longitudinal sections and one section being independently operable relative to the other to feed different numbers of webs or ribbons at the opposed ends of the cooperable nipping rollers, a collecting cylinder operably engaging the folding cylinder, independently operable sheet taking devices operably supported at the opposed ends-10f the collecting cylinder to. de liver different products at the opposed ends of the collecting cylinder to the sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder, cutting cylinders operably interposed betvveen the collecting cylinder and nipping rollers, sheet taking devices operably supported by the cutting cylinders to con-- vey cut sheets to the sheet taking devices of the collecting cylinder, separate delivery cylinders cooperable with the folding cylinder, sheet taking devices operably supported by each delivery cylinder to receive products from the sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder, the sheet taking devices at one end of each delivery cylinder being independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at the other end of the same cylin-- der so that different products. may be received at each' end of the delivery cylinders from the corresponding end of the folding cylinder, sep arate sets of rotatable control members operably engaging the-folding cylinder adjacent each delivery cylinder, the control members which operably engage one endof the folding cylinder being 16. ;In'a-folding mechanism, afolding cylinder,

sheet taking devioes'operably supported by the folding cylinder, the sheet taking devices at one end of the cylinder being independently operable relative to the sheet taking devices at the opposed end of the cylinder to carry difierent products on the opposed-ends of the folding cylinder, cooperable nipping rollers, one. of the nipping rollers having separate longitudinal sections and one section-beingindependently operable relative to the other-to feed dilferent numbers of Webs orribbons at, the opposed ends of'the cooperable nipping rollers, a collecting cylinder operably engaging the-folding cylinder, independently operable sheettaking devices operably supported at the opposed ends of the collecting cylinder to deliver different products at-the opposed ends of the collecting cylinder to the sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder, cutting cylinders operably interposed between the collecting cylinder andnipping rollers, sheet taking devices operably supported by the cutting cylinders to convey cut sheets to the sheet taking devices of the collecting cylinder, separate delivery cylinders cooperable with the folding cylinder,sheet taking devices operably supported by each delivery cylinder to receive products from the sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder, the sheet taking devices at one end of each delivery cylinder being independently operable relative to the sheet taking devicesat the other end of the same cylinder so that different products may be received at each; end of thedelivery cylinders from'the corresponding end of the folding cylinder, separate sets of rotatable control members operably engaging the folding cylinder adjacent each delivery cylinder, the control members which operably engage one end of the folding cylinder being independently operable relative to the control members which operably engage the opposed end of the folding cylinder to control different products at each end of the folding cylinder as they are being delivered from the sheet taking devices of the folding cylinder to the sheet taking devices of the delivery cylinders, a slitter operably engaging a cutting cylinder intermediate the terminals thereof to slit the sheets into separate equal sections, the slitter being movable to and from operable engagement with the said cutting cylinder, and a plurality of slitters operably engaging each delivery cylinder to cut the sheets or products into a plurality of sections, one of the slitters for each delivery cylinder being movable to and from operable engagement with the cylinder so that it may be moved to inoperable position when the slitter which engages the cutting cylinder is in operable position.

17. In a single folder arranged to produce a plurality of different folded products, one of the products consisting of at least three folded sheets, and one of the products consisting of one folded sheet, a pair of coacting nipping rollers at least one of which is divided in its mid section and separably adjustable with respect to its coacting roller, cooperating cutting and folding cylinders arranged to cut and fold products each consisting of one cut sheet carried on their peripheries nearer the other end, a control roller having separately supported individual sections each separately adjustable with relation to the folding cylinder and adapted to control the folded products as they pass between the folding cylinder and the control roller, and a delivery mechanism arranged to receive products from the folding cylinder.

18. In a single folder arranged to produce a plurality of different folded products, one of the products consisting of at least six out sheets and the other product consisting of two out sheets, a pair. of coacting nipping rollers at least one of which is divided in its mid section and separately adjustable with respect to its coacting roller, cooperating cutting, collecting, and folding cylinders arranged to cut and collect groups of at least three sheets carried on the cylinder peripheries nearer one end and arranged to cut and collect single sheets carried on their peripheries nearer the other end, a control rollerhaving separately supported individual sections each separately adjustable with relation to the folding cylinder and adapted to control folded products as they pass between the folding cylinder and the control roller, and a delivery mechanism arranged to receive products from the folding cylinder.

19. In a single folder arranged to produce a plurality of different folded products, one of the products consisting of sheets cut from at least three webs and folded without being collected and alternatively collected and folded, and one of the products consisting of sheets cut from a single web and folded without being collected and alternatively collected and folded, a pair of coacting nipping rollers at least one of which is divided in its mid section and separately adjustable with respect to its coacting roller, cooperating cutting, collecting and folding cylinders arranged to cut and collect groups of at least three sheets carried on the cylinder peripheries nearer one end and arranged to cut and collect single sheets carried on their peripheries nearer the other end, a control roller having separately supported individual sections each separately adjustable with relation to the folding cylinder and adapted to control folded products as they pass between the folding cylinder and the control roller, and a double delivery mechanism adapted to segregate products received from the folding cylinder.

20. In a single folder arranged to produce a plurality of difierent assembled, stapled, and folded products, one of the products consisting of at least six cut sheets and the other product consisting of two out sheets, a pair of coacting nipping rollers at least one of which is divided in its mid section and separately adjustable with respect to its coacting roller, cooperating cutting, collecting, stapling, and folding cylinders arranged to cut and collect groups of at least three sheets carried on the cylinder peripheries nearer one end and arranged to cut single sheets and collect and staplesaid single sheets carried on the cylinder peripheries nearer the other end, a control roller having separately supported individual sections each separately adjustable with respect to the folding cylinder and adapted to control folded products as they pass between the folding cylinder and the control roller, a delivery mechanism arranged to receive products from the folding cylinder, and a stapling cylinder adapted to insert staples in the groups of sheets before they are folded.

ADOLPI-I M. ZUCKERMAN. 

